Gateway Bronco’s 760-horsepower Shelby Sport SUV is extremely manageable

The latest creation from Gateway Bronco marks a significant milestone for the Illinois-based company restomod firm. And not just because of the exposed carbon fiber bodywork, the custom independent chassis with front suspension, or even the 760-hp supercharged V-8 under the hood. More importantly, this Gateway build carries Caroll Shelby‘s signature on a dashboard plate on the glove compartment.

That’s because this first prototype was built in collaboration with Shelby Americanand Gateway technically refers to the Bronco as the Shelby Sport SUV. Receiving official approval from Shelby was no small feat, as we learned while driving the prototype on a foggy day in Southern California. Simply putting such a powerful Ford ‘Predator’ engine into a vintage truck seems downright dangerous – instead, drivability quickly became the name of the game.

In city traffic, the Shelby Sport SUV demonstrates a refined level of throttle control to keep the prodigious performance in check, while the independent front suspension contributes to predictable, confident steering. But once the road starts to twist, the suspension only allows a little bit of body lean before veering into tighter corners than any 4×4 with 33-inch tires should be able to do – even far better than the already impressive Gateway’s. Luxury GT which we rode last year Monterey car week. From the passenger seat, Seth Burgett, founder of Gateway Bronco, told us that this particular project took eight years of development before Shelby signed off on it.

“We had to produce a vehicle that went so much further than anything before,” Burgett said. “To get it approved as a Shelby Sport SUV, it really had to be a world-class vehicle. . . we finally completed the deal in April this year.”

As a proof of concept, the Shelby Sport SUV had to live up to the Carroll Shelby name. A motorsport-derived Tremec five-speed manual transmission offers a classic driving experience, but can also handle the engine’s abundant torque. Even full-time all-wheel drive can’t prevent the powerplant from screeching all four tires as it barrels through the first corner. few gears. Gateway, on the other hand, also installs ABS brakes and traction control programming to prevent enthusiasm from turning to regret. Burgett even bragged that the truck can come to a stop from 60 mph in just 150 feet, despite the 33-inch BFGoodrich K02 all-terrain tires.

Moving from second to third and then to fourth – using the pistol grip-style shifter – had me thinking of vintage Broncos racing across the desert. And the weight of the clutch pedal perfectly communicates the friction zone while delivering so much power. Not to mention the stunning bimodal exhaust note, which starts as a deep growl and then builds into a growing cacophony higher up the rev counter.

Of course, Gateway will spec a tamer exhaust system to keep the neighbors happy, as well as a 10-speed automatic transmission or a 5.0-liter unsupercharged Coyote V-8. But we’d say this loses some of the Shelby pioneering spirit to some extent. That Shelby connection also ties into Burgett’s personal life. He drives an authentic GT350 in vintage racing and also owns the very first Ford Bronco ever produced, which Carroll Shelby himself previously owned. Yet this Shelby Sport SUV has little relation to those classics, despite technically wearing a 1966 model year designation.

The panel gaps of the all-carbon fiber bodywork, finished in a glossy Highland Green weave plus raw carbon for the racing stripes, all scream modern manufacturing methods. A new collaboration with Recaro provided the bucket seats, here finished with Pepita Houndstooth inserts inspired by the Porsche 911 R. Porsche leather upholstery, draped over the rest of the interior, contrasts sharply with the futuristic carbon inlay, especially in the gear lever.

“We went after the GT3 of sports SUVs because of the design aesthetic,” says Burgett. “That was actually the theme behind it. We could have built one Baja racer and have a custom tubular frame and put a V-8 in it. But that’s not marketable to the Shelby ownership community. . . we really strive to be the best sports SUV, period. Not vintage, not new, but period.”

The Recaro offers comfortable seating for driver and passengers, a critical consideration given the speeds this Bronco can reach so quickly. Of course, that kind of performance in a 4×4 dictates some tradeoffs. The carbon buckets don’t recline much and are mounted so high in the cabin that the top of the windshield frame blocks a straight line of sight for taller drivers. And to avoid too much squat and dive during hard acceleration and braking, Gateway had to use stiff springs that result in a rougher ride over cracked roads. Softer springs may be more comfortable, but less confidence-inspiring. We also wished for more supercharger whine, one of the biggest aspects of modern Hellcat engines that Fords typically neglect in favor of the amplified soundtrack of the exhaust.

Either way, the Shelby Sport SUV certainly turns heads, even when parked next to supercars. Burgett spent much of our morning together explaining to onlookers what exactly they were looking at: some noticed the carbon fiber bodywork, some ran their hands over the curly maple wood in the bed, others climbed into the Recaros to touch every last switch and knob. , each finished in metal with no cheap plastics in sight.

Gateway and Shelby plan to build just 10 examples per year, with pricing starting at $315,000 for a Bronco equipped with the Coyote V-8 and standard body panels. Taking full advantage of the carbon fiber and custom upholstery could quickly bring that sticker closer to $800,000. For your peace of mind, the Shelby Sport SUV also comes with a 10-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, which Burgett called the “flying doctor” service, and it’s worth noting that Gateway will build the trucks in a steering wheel configuration right. also for international customers. They will all carry a Gateway Bronco serial number and be included in the official Shelby Registry, making them an essential part of Caroll Shelby‘s ever-growing legacy in the automotive industry.

Click here for more photos of Gateway Bronco’s Shelby Sport SUV.